The Latest Presidential Polls...and the Leaders Are...

The folks at RealClearPolitics have updated and averaged the latest presidential polls and the results include:

Rudy G still leading the GOP (28 percent) and Phlegmatic Fred Thompson gaining several points (23 percent); McNasty McCain surging like the troops in Iraq past Romney...

On the Dem side, Hillary Clinton proceeds apace, with 44 percent, well above Barack Obama (24 percent) and John Edwards (14 percent), though all three are rising.

In head to head polls, Clinton beats the G-man, Thompson, McCain and everyone else, too.

More here.

Comments

Taktix® | September 12, 2007, 1:05pm | #

RealClear my pimpl'd ass! Where's Dr. Paul?

P.S. Anyone going to the "Values Voter Presidential Debate" in Fort Lauderdale on Monday?

iih | September 12, 2007, 1:09pm | #

Great! The two most disgusting candidates end up leaders -- HRC # 1 for the Dems and G for the Reps. I guess this ample proof that Reason's latest print version cover story got it exactly right.

Ideally (wishfully) Obama vs. Dr. Paul... but, eh, what shall I say.

Lost_In_Translation | September 12, 2007, 1:10pm | #

Paul is holding the line with 1% of the phone voting public.

I for one welcome our new Hilloverlord.

BugsBunny | September 12, 2007, 1:22pm | #

I command you all to imagine Hillary french-kissing Angela Merkel at their first summit. The steel drums from "Girls Gone Wild" are playing in my version.

Number 6 | September 12, 2007, 1:26pm | #

Hillary or Rudy?
I, for one, choose death.

Lost_In_Translation | September 12, 2007, 1:30pm | #

BB,

I hate you.

Number 6,

with Hillarycare, you won't even have that option.

joe | September 12, 2007, 1:32pm | #

I, for one, choose death.

Beats carrying out Bugs' thought experiment.

Jamie Kelly | September 12, 2007, 1:35pm | #

Fat-assed socialist bully vs. chest-thumping warmongering power monkey.

America, fuck yeah.

de stijl | September 12, 2007, 1:37pm | #

Number 6,

By hook or by crook, we will.

Timothy | September 12, 2007, 1:39pm | #

So let's see here, because 72% of Republican voters want somebody other than Rudy and 66% of Democratic voters want somebody other than Hilary we'll end up with that choice in the general election. Man, ain't democracy wonderful?

Bronwyn | September 12, 2007, 1:39pm | #

My husband and I are scouting out possible host countries for our defection. Sadly, our options are few.

Timothy | September 12, 2007, 1:41pm | #

I declare jihad on plurality voting, by the way.

CONDORCET AKBAR! And where that's impractical, APPROVAL AKBAR!

The Artist Formerly Know as Travis | September 12, 2007, 1:42pm | #

"Hillary french-kissing Angela Merkel at their first summit"

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

The Extispicator | September 12, 2007, 1:42pm | #

Whew! I was worried about having to figure out those new voting machines. Now I can just stay home and watch Jeopardy!

IT IS ALL USELESS | September 12, 2007, 1:47pm | #

ZOD WILL BE PRESIDENT, AND YOU ALL WILL KNEEL BEFORE ZOD.

AND THEN WE WILL ALL SMOKE HAND-DIPPED AWIK DUNEROOOOO CIGARS.

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 1:49pm | #

Well, I did hear General Zod is "libertarian leaning"!

Pro Libertate | September 12, 2007, 1:49pm | #

References to The Prisoner in this thread are quite apropos. After all, Hillary wants to take us to The Village.

I'm on record as saying that she and Rudy will both fail spectacularly in the primaries. I'm sticking to that prediction. Pre-primary polls are worse than useless. Of course, election results are not always rational. After all, look who has been nominated or even has won the presidency in the past!

Speaking of Zod, I haven't seen Urkobold mention him in a while. Looks like they're singing Manilow songs now. Tsk, tsk.

Isaac Bartram | September 12, 2007, 1:52pm | #

Bronwyn

Unless you want to learn another language New Zealand is about your only place that comes close.

Frankly I can't see hillary being much different from Bill (most of her rhetoric is for the base).

And really can Benito Giuliani be much worse that Bush? I don't think so.

I'm not sure that Hillary with a Republican Congress would be all that bad at all.

The very worst that I can think of is Giuliani with a GOP Congress.

Lost_In_Translation | September 12, 2007, 1:56pm | #

Prediction:

Hillary w/ a Democratic government. I get taken out back and horsewhipped for being a registered republican.

Taktix® | September 12, 2007, 1:58pm | #

I've been saying for years that I am going to defect to Ireland if such a situation arises.

Sadly, their immigration laws are really fucking strict.

I guess someone's listening to Pat Buchanan over there.

Chris S. | September 12, 2007, 2:10pm | #

According to the polls, the most electable candidate in the general election (not the primaries) is Edwards -- the only candidate I hate more than Guiliani.

Derrick Miller | September 12, 2007, 2:11pm | #

Well, I did hear General Zod is "libertarian leaning"!

Who told you that, Eric Dondero?

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 2:12pm | #

Who told you that, Eric Dondero?

Yup, and the AP said it too! So it must be true!

affenkopf | September 12, 2007, 2:18pm | #

Why vote for the lesser of two evils?
http://www.cthulhu.org/

Isaac Bartram | September 12, 2007, 2:23pm | #

PL

You might be onto something with "[Hillary} and Rudy will both fail spectacularly in the primaries."

It has occured to me that with this insanely early starting campaign the contestants in both camps will bloody eachother so badly the voters will reject them all.

They will then be looking to dust off an "elder-statesmen" in the party inventory. "Hey, Democrats, how 'bout Al Gore?" "Hell, yeah".

Not seeing anyone in the Republican tealeaves though. Too murky.

Urkobold™ | September 12, 2007, 2:24pm | #

ZOD LOVES LIBERTY! HE BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE FREE TO KNEEL BEFORE ZOD. ALSO, ZOD SEEKS ABSOLUTE FREEDOM FOR ALL KRYPTONIANS NAMED ZOD.

iih | September 12, 2007, 2:24pm | #

1. America needs to be a republic again, not a democracy. Probably never gonna happen.

2. Limited presidential powers so that states have a meaning again. Never gonna happen (GWB has already engraved federalism in hard stone all over the US -- see Charlie Savage's new book.)

3. States should adopt proportional representation (assuming option 2 happens) in Congress and drop the winner takes all mentality/procedure. Never gonna happen because 2 ain't ever gonna happen.

Rattlesnake Jake | September 12, 2007, 2:28pm | #

Forget about the CNN polls. I don't trust them when you consider that Gupta's polling company is behind those polls. Gupta is supporting Hillary. Notice he has Hillary leading Giuliani by 4 points and Giuliani leading Obama by 4 points. All to show that Hillary is the best Democratic candidate to run in the general election, I suspect. The Rasmussen poll shows Giuliani to be ahead of Hillary by 3 points and ahead of Obama by only 1 point which shows Obama to be a stronger candidate than Hillary in the general election.

The other polls are too old to consider. The most recent poll of them ends at August 13, a whole month ago.

Timothy | September 12, 2007, 2:38pm | #

I am seriously considering applying to graduate school in New Zealand, because I am just getting sick of this shit. Not that anywhere is any better, but New Zealand has penguins.

Rattlesnake Jake | September 12, 2007, 2:39pm | #

"The very worst that I can think of is Giuliani with a GOP Congress."

That could happen if Hillary is the nominee. Republicans will turn out en masse to keep Hillary out and while their at it, vote against the lower level Democrats as well. I read that the Democrat party in some states is having problems getting candidates to run for some offices because the candidates fear their chances of winning with Hillary at the top of the ticket.

Bronwyn | September 12, 2007, 2:44pm | #

New Zealand may be the way to go. I speak Spanish and a smattering of Arabic, but defection to a Spanish- or Arabic-speaking country would be a little too frying-pan to the fire.

Besides, the Kiwis have Flight of the Conchords. And I have a friend there already, too.

Well that does it. New Zealand or bust!

Bronwyn | September 12, 2007, 2:45pm | #

... Unless, of course, we manage to establish our island nation of monkey butlers.

Perhaps there is still room in Dubai?

kohlrabi | September 12, 2007, 2:52pm | #

I think Isaac and Derbyshire have it. Stay tuned for Al Gore.

iih | September 12, 2007, 3:04pm | #

Everyone: Just move to NH and live like a hermit in the mountains.

Bronwyn: How come you know some Arabic? If you don't my asking. Either way, I can't really think of a libertarian leaning country where Arabic is one of its major languages. Sorry!

prolefeed | September 12, 2007, 3:09pm | #

Am I the only one to notice that Fred Thompson is almost even with Giuliani?

prolefeed | September 12, 2007, 3:11pm | #

"The very worst that I can think of is Giuliani with a GOP Congress."

Any combination of a Republican president with a Republican Congress sucks. Any combination of a Democratic president with a Democratic Congress sucks just as much.

Bronwyn | September 12, 2007, 3:13pm | #

iih: I lived in Ras Tanura (aka Najmah), KSA from 1982-1992, when I left for boarding school. I was a "returning student" until 1997, when my parents returned to the US.

I'm what they call an ARAMCO brat :)

Jim Bob | September 12, 2007, 3:21pm | #

The douche leads the turd sandwich by five points, Steve.

Rattlesnake Jake | September 12, 2007, 3:23pm | #

"Am I the only one to notice that Fred Thompson is almost even with Giuliani?"

Whichever one is the strongest candidate against the bitch, that's who I'm for.

JBinMO | September 12, 2007, 3:24pm | #

"I command you all to imagine Hillary french-kissing Angela Merkel at their first summit. The steel drums from "Girls Gone Wild" are playing in my version."

Thats HOT!!!

Rattlesnake Jake | September 12, 2007, 3:26pm | #

"I think Isaac and Derbyshire have it. Stay tuned for Al Gore."

I don't like Al Gore, but if he can beat Hillary, more power to him.

iih | September 12, 2007, 3:37pm | #

Bronwyn:

Well it is nice to meet you on this forum. But KSA won't really work if HRC or G become president.

JBinMO | September 12, 2007, 3:38pm | #

". I speak Spanish and a smattering of Arabic, but defection to a Spanish- or Arabic-speaking country would be a little too frying-pan to the fire."

Are you a terrorist, I am calling the brown shir..,uh homeland security.

iih | September 12, 2007, 3:42pm | #

JBinMo (interesting handle by the way):

Spanish- Arabic-speaking gives you an illegal immigrant terrorist I guess. That is like double the offense. But, hey I'd be better. I just speak Arabic, English and French -- so just a terrorist? No, a Frenchy terrorist.

JBinMO | September 12, 2007, 3:44pm | #

iih

I would stay away from Duncan Hunter if I were you.

iih | September 12, 2007, 3:47pm | #

JBinMo:

I know nothing about Duncan Hunter. What's his beef?

JBinMO | September 12, 2007, 3:50pm | #

He is the Representative fron San Diago, the only part of the border fence that is actually up was put up by him. He seems a bit fanitical about the war on terror, and worst of all he won the Texas stray poll 2 weeks ago.

Ethan | September 12, 2007, 3:52pm | #

Hillary or Rudy?
I, for one, choose death.

Since both candidates will carry on our bellicose foreign policy, it might end up choosing you.

iih | September 12, 2007, 3:56pm | #

JBinMo:

Yeah, he's that guy who, whenever asked a question in the last GOP debate, could never hear the question. Luckily, I am at the other corner of the country.

Bronwyn | September 12, 2007, 4:03pm | #

iih: French and Arabic, eh? So you're faced with the dilemma... which do you do first? Surrender or blow stuff up?

JBinMo... I'm sure there's a file on me somewhere. It's a boring file and no doubt a waste of paper, but there must be a file.

iih | September 12, 2007, 4:08pm | #

Bronwyn: The dilemma that I can never resolve and which keeps me at bay, I guess. Sort of like GWB: leave Iraq and the terrorists have won -- stay in Iraq and the democrats have won.

A file there must be.

Isaac Bartram | September 12, 2007, 4:13pm | #

kohlrabi

I seem to recall joe is predicting Al Gore too.

The difference is that joe actually likes Al. :)

JBinMO | September 12, 2007, 4:23pm | #

If there is a file on me your tax dollars are being wasted.

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 5:29pm | #

Honestly, the only two areas I see HRC being worse than the Republicans in is gun control and health care. Though, with Bush's Medicare Part D spending orgy even that is questionable.

Eric the .5b | September 12, 2007, 5:46pm | #

They will then be looking to dust off an "elder-statesmen" in the party inventory. "Hey, Democrats, how 'bout Al Gore?" "Hell, yeah".

There's a pointy stick in the eye I'm willing to give a fair chance, considering the current field.

Grand Chalupa | September 12, 2007, 6:41pm | #

Ideally (wishfully) Obama vs. Dr. Paul... but, eh, what shall I say.

So your two favorite candidates are the one that wants the most government and the one who wants the least?

Jesus Christ, a black man is able to put two grammatically correct sentences together and even those most against his ideology start thinking "hey, he's not so bad...".

There's no logical reason Hillary deserves the socialist label and Obama doesn't. In fact, she's much more moderate.

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 7:12pm | #

Chalupa-

Jesus Christ, a black man is able to put two grammatically correct sentences together and even those most against his ideology start thinking "hey, he's not so bad...".

Having a President of any color that can put two grammatically correct sentences together after the last six 1/2 years will be a relief.

Joe Biden | September 12, 2007, 7:27pm | #

Chalupa, you're forgetting that he's also very clean.

iih | September 12, 2007, 7:38pm | #

Hello Chalupa:

Jesus Christ, a black man is able to put two grammatically correct sentences together and even those most against his ideology start thinking "hey, he's not so bad...".

Other than finding this statement very appalling, of all the Dems who can win, he is the most intelligent, honorable of them. Since hearing him speak for the first time on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" a few years ago,I highly admired his sincerity and honesty (and sense of humor). I disagree with his big government policies, but his big G policies are far less scary than HRC's or the current and any future GOP president.

And, yes, Cesar, it is not like we have a president who is a PhD holder in English literature.

iih | September 12, 2007, 7:39pm | #

Nicely done, crimethink!

iih | September 12, 2007, 7:43pm | #

Am I the only one to find chalupa's comment racist. Don't take me wrong chalupa, you are absolutely free to say what you want, but I am absolutely free to think of you as a racist.

In fact, she's much more moderate.

Please, tell me how!

joe | September 12, 2007, 7:48pm | #

I think it's getting a bit late for Gore.

And my prediction was that Al would kick ass IF he ran, not whether he'd run.

Frankly, it's getting a bit late for anyone to beat Hillary. I thought there would at least be a horserace by now, even if she ended up pulling ahead. She really has run a virtually flawless campaign, and quietly chewed up ground.

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 7:54pm | #

Chalupa gets some kind of kick off saying racist things, so don't bother. He thinks it makes him edgy and "un-PC". He probably doesn't say them in real life and is just letting off steam.

Grand Chalupa | September 12, 2007, 8:00pm | #

iih,

I'll give you that Obama is honest and has a sense of humor, but if his policies are horrible so what? I think Clinton wasn't that bad of a president for the ironic reason he had no integrity, so was pushed into welfare reform and other good policies.

I disagree with his big government policies, but his big G policies are far less scary than HRC's or the current and any future GOP president.

I think your blinded by his charisma. Leaving out the Republicans so we can compare apples to apples, how is his big government better than Hillary's?

Am I the only one to find chalupa's comment racist.

Do you need the opinions of others to decide?

Cesar | September 12, 2007, 8:02pm | #

I'm going to be shouted down by some for saying this, but HRC with a Republican Congress maybe wouldn't be so bad.

joe | September 12, 2007, 8:38pm | #

Rattlesnake Jake,

I'd be careful about Rasmussen polls.

IMHO, they are very good at capturing trends, and doing so before anyone else, but their individual snapshots can be pretty far off - and be consistent in the size and direction of that inaccuracy, so that the trends they report end up holding up.

iih | September 12, 2007, 8:39pm | #

Chalupa: Ever heard of rhetorical questions?

Eric Dondero | September 13, 2007, 1:02am | #

Yeah, time to leave the country alright. We can't have any one in the office of the Presidency who cut taxes 23 times in his prior occupation as Mayor of a major city.

And we can't have anyone as President with a liftime NTU score of 85, 91 in one single year.

What's that they say? The perfect is the enemy of the good, or something like that?

Jake Boone | September 13, 2007, 8:46am | #

I keep hearing this "cut taxes 23 times" thing. Shouldn't Rudy be saying something about "I cut taxes by X%"? The number of times is pretty meaningless without some measure of how much those 23 times actually mattered.

I suspect Rudy harps on the number of cuts because he a) doesn't want us to know that they were insignificant in size, or b) doesn't want us to know that they were narrowly focused at campaign contributors or something.

Eric Dondero | September 14, 2007, 1:07am | #

Blah, blah, blah.

If Rudy eliminated the income tax you cynical Libertarians would still find something to bitch about.

Just admit it. You hate him personally, maybe cause he's an Italian-American, and successful.

And because he poses such a threat as a Mainstream libertarian to the hardcore Radical extremists in the Libertarian Party.

That's why you hate Rudy.